Mitochondrial mutations associated with cardiac angina

Aim: Cardiac angina is a disease in which discomfort or retrosternal pain may occur. Atherosclerosis of coronary arteries is one of the main risk factors for cardiac angina. The aim of the investigation was to analyze the association of 11 mitochondrial genome mutations with cardiac angina. In our preliminary studies an association of these mutations with atherosclerosis, a risk factor for cardiac angina, was found.Methods: We used samples of white blood cells collected from 192 patients with cardiac angina and 201 conventionally healthy study participants. DNA from blood leukocyte samples was isolated using a phenol-chloroform method. DNA amplicons containing the investigated regions of 11 mitochondrial genome mutations (m.12315G>A, m.652delG, m.5178C>A, m.14459G>A, m.3336T>C, 652insG, m.3256C>T, m.1555A>G, m.15059G>A, m.13513G>A, m.14846G>A) were pyrosequenced. The heteroplasmy level of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations was analyzed using a method developed by our laboratory on the basis of pyrosequencing technology.Results: According to the obtained data, three mitochondrial mutations of human genome correlated with cardiac angina. A positive correlation was observed for mutation m.14459G>A (P ≤ 0.05). One single nucleotide substitution m.5178C>A (P ≤ 0.1) had a trend for positive correlation. A negative correlation for mutation m.15059G>A with cardiac angina (P ≤ 0.05) was found.Conclusion: MtDNA mutations m.14459G>A and m.5178C>A can be used for evaluation the predisposition of individuals to atherosclerotic lesions. At the same time, mitochondrial genome mutation m.15059G>A may be used for gene therapy of atherosclerosis